• Events
  • Membership
  • Programmes
    • Lead
    • Advance
    • Grow
  • Working Groups
    • APPG
    • D&I Bus Group
    • Women's Safety
    • Inspire the Next Generation
  • Equity Index
  • Research
  • Who we are
    • Blog
    • Podcast
    • Our Regions
    • Leadership Team
  • Partner with us
  • Volunteer with us
  • Menu

Women in Transport

  • Events
  • Membership
  • Programmes
    • Lead
    • Advance
    • Grow
  • Working Groups
    • APPG
    • D&I Bus Group
    • Women's Safety
    • Inspire the Next Generation
  • Equity Index
  • Research
  • Who we are
    • Blog
    • Podcast
    • Our Regions
    • Leadership Team
  • Partner with us
  • Volunteer with us
 
Get in touch
 

Women in Transport: Team Member Insight - Iain Smith

August 05, 2025 in Team Profile

What is your role at Women in Transport?

I am co Director of Lead (along with the fantastic Shireen Ali-Khan) and I try to be helpful in general, with supporting Women in Transport in achieving its mission. Such important work!

How long have you been involved with Women in Transport?

About 8 years

Why did you join Women in Transport?

To be honest, I was a bit surprised that I could, what with being white, straight CIS, able-bodied bloke. But I was delighted when Jo Field suggested that I join in as this agenda is right in the middle of the things that I care about: fairness, diversity of thought, empowerment, collaboration and the network.

What do you enjoy most about being part of Women in Transport?

I absolutely love being part of the duo who run the "Lead" programme. The opportunity to work with so many women, in a deep and trusting way, creating a mini community, where everyone supports each other to achieve their aims....well, it is fantastic, humbling and, so very rewarding.

Current job title

Director (of Network for Skills Ltd)

What does your current job involve?

The job has two key aspects. The first is leadership of a team of experts who support a number of organisations to achieve the transport and wider objectives that they have set for themselves. The second, if you like if my day job, which involves me in helping individuals, teams and organisations in the areas of leadership, culture and behaviours.

What's the best thing about your job?

People. I get to work with so many great people, and supporting them to grow and thrive is such a pleasure. If it's this great, it's not a job, it's not work.

How did you become involved in the transport industry?

My mum told me to. No real idea why she thought that... but you should always listen to your mum.

What do you like about working in transport?

This sector makes such a difference, to pretty much everyone, pretty much everyday. When they go to school, go to work, and go out to have fun. What transport people do really matters. And what great people come to this sector, many, mostly perhaps, but accident. But, once you find yourself here, why wouldn't you stay. This is a land of opportunity. I started as a ticket collector on London Underground and have had a fantastic time. Long may that continue.

What are you most proud of?

I have been so lucky and part of that has been building such a great network...and being part of so many other people's network as well. That's it... the friends, the colleagues and the connects. People I love, like and trust.


Membership of Women in Transport is only £5 a month and provides access to our busy events programme, professional development and networking opportunities. We also welcome guest blogs from our members – a great way to raise your profile and connect with our community.

For all the latest, you can follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram and X.

Join Women in Transport
Tags: team profiles
Prev / Next

News

Women in Transport provides a varied and lively events programme with access to thought leaders, senior stakeholders and professional trainers.

As the Secretariat to the All Party Parliamentary Group for women in transport, we are committed to working with the UK government to increase the representation of women in the transport sector.

Join Women in Transport
 
No results found

Featured Posts

Featured
Grow coaching: Completing our three-spoke model for professional development
August 3, 2026
professional development, Lead, Advance, Grow, coaching
Grow coaching: Completing our three-spoke model for professional development
August 3, 2026
professional development, Lead, Advance, Grow, coaching

For more than a decade, we’ve been building a development ecosystem that supports women at every stage of their career journey. Find out where Grow fits in.

Read more →
August 3, 2026
professional development, Lead, Advance, Grow, coaching
Safer journeys for women and girls: MPs launch inquiry
July 28, 2026
women’s safety, research, policy
Safer journeys for women and girls: MPs launch inquiry
July 28, 2026
women’s safety, research, policy

The Transport Committee has opened an inquiry into safer journeys for women and girls. The Women in Transport women's safety working group looks at what it's asking – and why our members should respond before the 9th October deadline.

Read more →
July 28, 2026
women’s safety, research, policy
The Women Who Moved the North East
July 20, 2026
North East Hub, 20th stories, trailblazers
The Women Who Moved the North East
July 20, 2026
North East Hub, 20th stories, trailblazers

Ahead of the relaunch of our North East regional hub in September, we’ve taken a look back at the region’s rich transport history, including some of the pioneering women not always mentioned in the history books.

Read more →
July 20, 2026
North East Hub, 20th stories, trailblazers
Lead: Applications open for Rees Jeffreys Road Fund Bursary
June 29, 2026
leadership, professional development, Lead
Lead: Applications open for Rees Jeffreys Road Fund Bursary
June 29, 2026
leadership, professional development, Lead

We are delighted to announce that applications are now open for the Rees Jeffreys Road Fund Leadership Bursary, offering five women working in the roads and highways sector the opportunity to participate in Women in Transport's transformational Lead leadership development programme.

Read more →
June 29, 2026
leadership, professional development, Lead
'Pride' and Prejudice
June 18, 2026
pride, belonging, women’s safety, inclusive design, allyship
'Pride' and Prejudice
June 18, 2026
pride, belonging, women’s safety, inclusive design, allyship

Every June, our transport infrastructure is redrawn in a vibrant wave of seasonal solidarity. Bus liveries are plastered with rainbow vinyls, corporate logos follow suit, and across the industry, we celebrate the visibility and inclusion of LGBTQ+ people.

Read more →
June 18, 2026
pride, belonging, women’s safety, inclusive design, allyship
The Growing Importance of Sector-Specific Coaching
June 16, 2026
coaching, professional development, empowerment
The Growing Importance of Sector-Specific Coaching
June 16, 2026
coaching, professional development, empowerment

By providing structured coaching support for women working in transport, Grow recognises a simple but powerful truth: when individuals grow, organisations grow too.

Read more →
June 16, 2026
coaching, professional development, empowerment
Introducing our latest professional development programme: Grow
June 16, 2026
coaching, empowerment, professional development
Introducing our latest professional development programme: Grow
June 16, 2026
coaching, empowerment, professional development

Building on our core professional development programmes Lead and Advance, we’re thrilled to launch Grow, our new coaching service for women working across the transport and infrastructure sector.

Read more →
June 16, 2026
coaching, empowerment, professional development
The Spaces Between Us: Why women's safety in transport starts with who's in the room
May 18, 2026
women’s safety, inclusive design
The Spaces Between Us: Why women's safety in transport starts with who's in the room
May 18, 2026
women’s safety, inclusive design

As co-founder of Women in Parking UK and Chair of the Women’s Safety Group for Women in Transport, I sit at an intersection of two industries that share a responsibility here, and too often share the same blind spots. The data tells us the situation is not improving. In some respects, it is getting worse.

Read more →
May 18, 2026
women’s safety, inclusive design
UK Government announces Voluntary Action Plans for large employers
May 18, 2026
gender, equity, government, policy
UK Government announces Voluntary Action Plans for large employers
May 18, 2026
gender, equity, government, policy

As a new measure aiming to help women thrive in the workplace, the government recently announced voluntary action plans for large employers, starting with the 2026-2027 gender pay gap reporting year.

Read more →
May 18, 2026
gender, equity, government, policy
Give to Gain in Bus and Coach: Driving Change Together
March 8, 2026
inclusive design, Women in Transport Bus, research, flexible working
Give to Gain in Bus and Coach: Driving Change Together
March 8, 2026
inclusive design, Women in Transport Bus, research, flexible working

Driving Change Together is our research report into women’s experiences of working in bus and coach, launched on International Women’s Day 2026 and produced in partnership with Women in Bus and Coach and First Bus. Here are some highlights from the report.

Read more →
March 8, 2026
inclusive design, Women in Transport Bus, research, flexible working
Archive
  • August 2026 5
  • July 2026 8
  • June 2026 17
  • May 2026 6
  • April 2026 8
  • March 2026 12
  • February 2026 7
  • January 2026 13
  • December 2025 7
  • November 2025 11
  • October 2025 11
  • September 2025 5
  • August 2025 5
  • July 2025 11
  • June 2025 13
  • May 2025 7
  • April 2025 9
  • March 2025 11
  • February 2025 3
  • January 2025 9
  • December 2024 9
  • November 2024 12
  • October 2024 12
  • September 2024 6
  • August 2024 3
  • July 2024 9
  • June 2024 5
  • May 2024 6
  • April 2024 8
  • March 2024 8
  • February 2024 8
  • January 2024 3
  • December 2023 3
  • November 2023 13
  • October 2023 7
  • September 2023 3
  • August 2023 1
  • July 2023 3
  • June 2023 4
  • May 2023 8
  • March 2023 4
  • January 2023 1
  • December 2022 3
  • November 2022 2
  • October 2022 1
  • September 2022 5
  • August 2022 1
  • July 2022 1
  • June 2022 7
  • May 2022 2
  • March 2022 4
  • February 2022 4
  • January 2022 1
  • December 2021 3
  • November 2021 1
  • October 2021 2
  • September 2021 4
  • August 2021 3
  • July 2021 2
  • June 2021 4
  • May 2021 5
  • April 2021 4
  • March 2021 9
  • February 2021 2
  • January 2021 2
  • December 2020 1
  • November 2020 7
  • October 2020 6
  • September 2020 1
  • August 2020 3
  • July 2020 2
  • June 2020 4
  • May 2020 5
  • April 2020 9
  • March 2020 11
  • February 2020 7
  • January 2020 3
  • December 2019 6
  • November 2019 4
  • October 2019 7
  • September 2019 4
  • August 2019 3
  • July 2019 9
  • June 2019 7
  • May 2019 3
  • April 2019 4
  • March 2019 9
  • February 2019 6
  • January 2019 4
  • December 2018 4
  • November 2018 2
  • October 2018 3
  • August 2018 2
  • July 2018 4
  • June 2018 4
  • May 2018 3
  • April 2018 1
  • March 2018 3
  • February 2018 3
  • December 2017 3
  • November 2017 5
  • September 2017 5
  • August 2017 1
  • May 2017 1
  • April 2017 1
  • March 2017 1
  • February 2017 1
  • October 2016 1
  • July 2016 3
  • May 2016 1
  • June 2015 1